In a current court docket determination, an Arizona man, Michael Turney, accused of the homicide of his 17-year-old stepdaughter, Alissa Turney, has been declared not responsible in July 2023. The decide dominated that the proof offered was not sufficient to determine his guilt past an inexpensive doubt. The decision, introduced within the Maricopa County court docket, got here as a aid to Michael Turney, 75, whereas leaving Alissa’s grieving relations shocked and in tears.
The trial lasted solely per week, with the jury listening to testimony associated to the second-degree homicide expenses in opposition to Turney. Alissa’s disappearance dates again to Could 2001 when she supposedly left a observe stating her intention to run away to California. Tragically, she has by no means been discovered, leaving her household determined for solutions and closure. Nevertheless, the dearth of conclusive proof, on this case, led to the decide’s determination to acquit Michael Turney of the fees introduced in opposition to him.
Legal professionals’ Arguments and Counter Offense
Through the trial, legal professionals argued that Michael Turney and his stepdaughter, Alissa Turney, had a troubled relationship. They stated that Turney had many movies of Alissa to manage her. Nevertheless, the protection disagreed and stated that there isn’t a proof that Alissa Turney is not alive. After the prosecution completed presenting their proof, the decide agreed with the protection and determined to drop the homicide expenses in opposition to Turney.
The decide used a rule known as Rule 20, which lets the court docket make an acquittal if there’s not sufficient legitimate proof for a conviction. Alissa’s half-sister and Turney’s daughter, Sarah Turney, performed an essential function as a witness in the course of the trial. Sarah’s efforts on social media helped to get Turney arrested in 2020. Nevertheless, Sarah left the courthouse with out speaking to the reporters.
Protection Requires Acquittal
On Monday seventeenth July, in the course of the trial, the protection requested the decide to declare the defendant not responsible. They argued that there was not sufficient proof to show the accusations in opposition to him. The protection stated that there have been indicators suggesting that Alissa Turney might need chosen to go away on her personal and there’s no clear proof that she is not alive.
The final time anybody noticed Alissa was on Could 17, 2001, when she was at her house in Phoenix. On the ultimate day of her junior 12 months at Paradise Valley Excessive College, Alissa Turney knowledgeable her boyfriend that her stepfather can be gathering her for lunch. Subsequently, Michael Turney, Alissa’s stepfather, reported her lacking. In keeping with him, she had left a observe indicating that she had run away to California. In 2008, investigators talked to witnesses once more and searched Michael Turney’s house.
Through the search, they discovered greater than 20 pipe bombs that weren’t registered to Turney. He was charged with these crimes and went to jail. He was launched in 2017. Through the trial, Alissa’s sister, Sarah, spoke in opposition to her personal father final week. She may be very lively on social media and has a podcast known as ‘Voices for Justice’ the place she talks concerning the case. Sarah instructed the court docket about how her father manipulated her into pondering that Alissa Turney was a rebellious teenager who selected to run away to California.
Sarah’s Quest for Solutions Uncovers Troubling Revelations
Sarah, who’s Alissa’s sister, began to have doubts concerning the tales their father was telling about what occurred to Alissa Turney. When she confronted him in 2017, he refused to clarify and stated he would solely inform the reality when he was dying. He even advised that he would confess the whole lot if he was given a lethal injection quickly. Through the trial, Sarah shared that her father and Alissa had a troubled relationship. She performed a recorded telephone name the place her father spoke badly about Alissa to somebody named Michael Seth.
The protection within the trial argued that there wasn’t sufficient proof to show the allegations in opposition to their shopper. They stated that there have been causes to imagine that Alissa could have chosen to run away and that there isn’t a particular proof of her dying. Sarah, who may be very lively on social media and has a podcast known as ‘Voices for Justice,’ testified in opposition to her father within the trial. She defined how he manipulated her into pondering Alissa ran away on her personal.
However they couldn’t discover any movies from the day Alissa Turney went lacking among the many tapes they present in 2008. Through the trial, it was revealed that Turney secretly filmed Alissa at house and had a whole bunch of movies of her. The prosecution additionally stated he tapped her telephone and made her signal a contract saying he didn’t sexually assault her. The jury heard testimonies from John Turney, Alissa’s half-brother, and James Turney, her stepbrother.
However the decide didn’t permit James to speak about an incident the place Alissa instructed him about Turney’s inappropriate conduct. The protection argued that there was no DNA or blood proof proving Turney’s guilt in Alissa’s disappearance. In addition they identified that with out her physique, there isn’t a particular proof that Alissa is lifeless.
A Decided Sister’s Struggle for Justice
Sarah began her personal podcast known as ‘Voices for Justice’ in 2019. She wished to share the story of their household, what occurred main as much as Alissa’s disappearance, and a timeline of occasions since then. In Could 2020, Sarah started making movies on TikTok about Alissa’s case. Surprisingly, many individuals grew to become excited by her sister’s story by this platform.
Sarah stated in an interview with NBC that she couldn’t imagine it, however the response and curiosity she had obtained on TikTok previously month was greater than what she had gotten previously 10 years. She additional expressed that the case was now buying extra consideration, and he or she was decided to take care of it that means. For Sarah, Alissa continues to be her robust older sister who taught her the worth of power.
She talked about that she wanted to stay robust and make the most of that power to advocate for the justice Alissa deserved. She emphasised that Alissa Turney deserved a good day in court docket, and he or she was absolutely devoted to making sure that it occurred.
Backside Line
In a current Arizona trial, Michael Turney, the stepfather of Alissa Turney, has been acquitted of the homicide expenses in opposition to him on account of inadequate proof. The decision, introduced in July 2023, left Alissa’s grieving relations shocked and in tears. Alissa’s sister, Sarah Turney, stays decided to battle for justice and make sure that her sister receives a good day in court docket.